On the day when a person receives Baptism, i.e. becomes a Christian, he is given a pectoral cross. This is a symbol of devotion to God, gratitude for his sacrifice on the cross and readiness to bear his own cross - all those life trials that a Christian will have to go through.
The Christian pectoral cross is a whole complex of symbolic meanings. It is very important to correctly understand all signs, all images and inscriptions on it.
Cross and Savior
The most important symbol is, of course, the cross itself. The custom of wearing a cross arose only in the 4th century, before that Christians wore medallions depicting a lamb - a sacrificial lamb, symbolizing the self-sacrifice of the Savior. There were also medallions depicting a crucifixion.
The cross - the image of the Savior's instrument of death - became a natural continuation of this tradition.
Initially, there were no signs on the pendant crosses, only a floral ornament. He symbolized the Tree of Life, which Adam lost and Jesus Christ returned to people.
In the 11-13th centuries. the image of the Savior appears on the crosses, but not crucified, but sitting on a throne. This emphasizes the image of Christ as the King of the Universe, to whom "all authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given."
But even in earlier eras, crosses with the image of the crucified Savior occasionally appear. This had a special meaning in the context of the struggle against Monophysitism - the idea of the complete absorption of human nature in the person of Jesus Christ by the Divine nature. In such conditions, the depiction of the death of the Savior emphasized his human nature. In the end, it was precisely this image of the Savior on the pectoral cross that prevailed.
The head of the crucified man is surrounded by a halo - a symbol of holiness - with an inscription in Greek "UN", which means "I am." This emphasizes the divine nature of the Savior.
Other signs
In the upper part of the cross there is an additional crossbar with four letters, which are deciphered as "Jesus Christ - King of the Jews." A plaque with such an inscription was nailed to the cross by order of Pontius Pilate, since many of Christ's followers really viewed him as a future king. The Roman governor in this way wanted to emphasize the futility of the hopes of the Jews: "Here he is - your king, betrayed to the most shameful execution, and so it will be with everyone who dares to encroach on the power of Rome." Perhaps it would not be worth remembering this Roman trick, all the more so - to perpetuate it in pectoral crosses, if the Savior were really not the King, and not only the Jews, but the entire universe.
The lower crossbar originally had a utilitarian meaning - supporting the body on the cross. But it also has a symbolic meaning: in Byzantium, from where Christianity came to Russia, a foot was always present in the images of noble and royal persons. Here is the foot of the cross - this is another symbol of the royal dignity of the Savior.
The right end of the crossbar is raised, the left is lowered - this is an allusion to the fate of the robbers crucified with Christ. The one who was crucified on the right repented and went to Paradise, while the other died without repentance. Such a symbol reminds a Christian of the need for repentance, the path to which is open to everyone.
A skull is depicted under the feet of the crucified. According to legend, on Golgotha, where Jesus Christ was crucified, there was the grave of Adam. The Savior, as it were, tramples with his feet the skull, symbolizing death - a consequence of the slavery of sin to which Adam doomed mankind. This is a graphic expression of the words from the Easter hymn - "Death trampled upon death."
On the reverse side of the pectoral cross, there is usually an inscription: "Save and preserve." This is a small prayer, a Christian's appeal to God - a request to protect not only from misfortunes and dangers, but also from temptations and sins.
